JP2009089882A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of easily preventing a player's act of playing a game while holding a shooting force of game balls constantly without touching a shooting operation unit and smoothly rotationally turning a turning operation part without any trouble. <P>SOLUTION: This Pachinko game machine includes the shooting operation unit 12 for executing a shooting operation of a game ball in a front frame 3, wherein the shooting operation unit 12 has a unit base 14 becoming a fixed-side base part of the shooting operation unit 12, a turning operation part 15 turnably supported to the unit base 14 and turned for adjusting the shooting force of the game ball, and a slide guide mechanism 16 sliding the turning operation part 15 in the turning axis direction with the turning operation, and the turning operation part 15 is slid by the slide guide mechanism 16 to increase a clearance formed between the unit base 14 and the turning operation part 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine having a front operation frame for launching a game ball.

  A conventional gaming machine, for example, a pachinko gaming machine, includes a launching operation unit (launching operation handle) for launching a game ball, and a player rotates a turning operation unit provided in the launching operation unit. Thus, the launching force of the game ball launched from the launching device is set. When the player releases his / her hand from the turning operation unit, the launching operation unit rotates the rotating member back to the rotation start position by the biasing force of the biasing member, and cancels the setting of the launching force. Is configured to stop the firing operation.

In recent years, a player tries to continuously fire a game ball with the rotation operation unit of the launch operation unit maintained at a desired rotation position, and between the base of the launch operation unit and the rotation operation unit. Foreign matter such as coins and toothpicks may be forcibly pushed into the formed gap. Therefore, in order to prevent such actions and allow players to play a healthy game, a gaming machine has been proposed in which a gap filling member is provided in the gap between the base of the firing operation unit and the rotation operation unit. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-296037 A

  By the way, in the launching operation unit described in the above-mentioned patent document, if dust or dust enters a slight gap between the gap filling member and the turning operation unit, the turning operation unit may not be able to rotate smoothly. is there. Although it is conceivable to apply a member having a low coefficient of friction to the gap filling member to maintain smooth rotation of the rotation operation unit, it is not preferable because the manufacturing cost is increased.

  The present invention makes it easy to prevent the player from trying to play a game by keeping the firing force of the game ball in a constant state without touching the firing operation unit, and smoothly turns the turning operation unit without any trouble. It is intended to provide a gaming machine that can.

The present invention has been proposed in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, and what is described in claim 1 is a gaming machine provided with a launch operation unit for launching a game ball on a front frame.
The launch operation unit includes a unit base that is a fixed-side base of the launch operation unit, and a pivot operation that is supported by the unit base so as to be pivotable and is rotated to adjust the launch force of the game ball. And a slide guide mechanism that slides the rotation operation unit in the direction of the rotation center axis along with the rotation operation,
The gaming machine is characterized in that the gap formed between the unit base and the turning operation unit can be widened by sliding the turning operation unit with the slide guide mechanism.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the unit base includes a rear base portion fixed to the front frame, and a front base portion located on the opposite side of the front frame across the rear base portion. Prepared in a state separated from the front and rear, a rotation operation part is arranged between the front base part and the rear base part,
The slide guide mechanism is mounted on an operation shaft portion projecting from a position on the rotation center axis of the rotation operation portion toward the front base portion side, and attached to the front base portion, and slides the operation shaft portion. A bearing member that fits in a movable state, a cam that is formed in an arc shape around the rotation center axis, and that has an arcuate inclined cam surface at the end in the direction of the rotation center axis; A cam follower that is pressed against the inclined cam surface; and a slide urging member that urges the cam follower toward the inclined cam surface.
Either one of the cam or the cam follower is provided on the rear base portion, and the other is provided on the rotation operation portion.
2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein when the rotation operation unit is rotated, the cam follower slides on the inclined cam surface, and the rotation operation unit slides in the rotation central axis direction. It is a gaming machine.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the gradient of the intermediate portion from the start end to the end of the inclined cam surface is set steeper than the gradient on the start end side and the gradient on the end side. This is a gaming machine.
The gradient of the inclined cam surface means the degree of inclination of the inclined cam surface set with reference to the base end portion of the cam located on the opposite side of the inclined cam surface across the cam.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the front base portion, a bearing fitting portion for fitting a bearing member is formed,
4. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the bearing member is biased toward the bearing fitting portion by the biasing force of the slide biasing member.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the launch operation unit includes an adjustment signal output means capable of outputting an adjustment signal for adjusting the launching force of the game ball,
The adjustment signal output means includes an adjustment rotation shaft for changing the adjustment signal. The adjustment rotation shaft is disposed on the rotation center axis and is connected to the rotation operation unit via an engagement mechanism. Together
The engagement mechanism includes an engagement protrusion that extends in a direction different from the rotation center axis direction, an engagement groove that engages the engagement protrusion and extends along the rotation center axis direction, Consists of
Either the engagement protrusion or the engagement groove is provided on the adjustment rotation shaft, and the other is provided on the rotation operation portion. The rotation operation portion rotates while the rotation operation portion and the adjustment rotation shaft rotate together. The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein the gaming machine is configured to slide along a rotation center axis.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a bearing fitting portion for fitting a bearing member is formed on the front base portion,
The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the bearing member is biased toward the bearing fitting portion by the biasing force of the slide biasing member.

According to the present invention, the following excellent effects can be obtained.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine having a front operation frame for performing a game ball launch operation, the launch operation unit is a unit base serving as a fixed base of the launch operation unit. A rotation operation unit that is supported by the unit base in a rotatable state and is rotated to adjust the launching force of the game ball, and the rotation operation unit is rotated about the rotation operation. A slide guide mechanism that slides in the axial direction, and the slide operation mechanism allows the rotation operation unit to slide to widen a gap formed between the unit base and the rotation operation unit. Even if a foreign object such as a coin is sandwiched in the gap with the rotation operation unit, the foreign object can be easily separated from the unit base or the rotation operation unit, and it is difficult to maintain the rotation position of the rotation operation unit. Therefore, it becomes easy to prevent the player from trying to play a game while keeping the firing force of the game ball in a constant state without touching the firing operation unit, and the player can be encouraged to execute a healthy game. Further, even if dust or dirt enters the gap between the unit base and the rotation operation unit, the gap can be widened to easily remove the dust and the rotation operation unit can be rotated without any trouble. .

  According to the invention described in claim 2, the unit base includes a rear base portion fixed to the front frame, a front base portion positioned on the opposite side of the front frame across the rear base portion, Are provided in a state where they are separated from each other in the front-rear direction, a rotation operation part is disposed between the front base part and the rear base part, and the slide guide mechanism is located at a position on the rotation center axis of the rotation operation part. An operation shaft projecting toward the front base, the bearing member that is mounted on the front base and fits the operation shaft in a slidable manner, and an arc shape around the rotation center axis A cam formed with an arcuate inclined cam surface at the end in the rotational central axis direction, a cam follower pressed against the inclined cam surface of the cam, and a slide for biasing the cam follower to the inclined cam surface And a rear base portion with either the cam or the cam follower. Because the cam follower slides on the inclined cam surface and the rotation operation part slides in the direction of the rotation center axis when the other is provided in the rotation operation part and the rotation operation part is rotated. The mechanism for sliding the rotation operation unit in the direction of the rotation center axis along with the rotation operation can be realized with a simple configuration.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the gradient of the intermediate portion from the start end to the end of the inclined cam surface is set steeper than the start end gradient and the end end gradient. The amount of slide per moving angle can be changed. Furthermore, when the rotation operation unit is adjusted in a state where the cam follower slides on the intermediate portion of the inclined cam surface, the player sets a desired firing force (for example, a firing force at which a game ball can be won). If this is the case, even if the player maintains the launch force by the foreign object and aims to win the game ball, there is a gap formed between the unit base and the rotation operation unit during the adjustment of the rotation operation unit. As a result, it is easy to prevent the rotation position of the rotation operation unit, that is, the maintenance of the launching force of the game ball. Therefore, it is possible to further encourage the player to execute a healthy game.

  According to the fourth and sixth aspects of the present invention, the front base portion is formed with the bearing fitting portion for fitting the bearing member, and the bearing member is fitted to the bearing fitting portion by the biasing force of the slide biasing member. Therefore, the bearing member can be reliably positioned, and the rotation operation unit can be smoothly rotated and slid.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, the firing operation unit includes the adjustment signal output means capable of outputting an adjustment signal for adjusting the firing force of the game ball, and the adjustment signal output means outputs the adjustment signal. An adjusting rotation shaft for changing, and the adjusting rotation shaft is disposed on the rotation center axis and engaged with the rotation operation unit via the engagement mechanism. An engaging protrusion extending in a direction different from the moving central axis direction, and an engaging groove engaging with the engaging protrusion and extending along the rotating central axis direction. Either one of the groove portions is provided on the adjustment rotation shaft, and the other is provided on the rotation operation portion. The rotation operation portion and the adjustment rotation shaft rotate together while the rotation operation portion rotates along the rotation center axis. Since it is configured to slide, the adjustment signal output means slides in the direction of the rotation center axis together with the rotation operation unit. There is no need to. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the problem that the transmission wiring for transmitting the adjustment signal from the adjustment signal output means repeatedly moves and breaks, and it is possible to make it difficult to cause the firing operation unit to fail.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking a pachinko gaming machine as a typical gaming machine as an example. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pachinko gaming machine.
As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko gaming machine 1 has a front frame (inner frame) 3 attached to an outer frame (machine frame or body frame) 2 so as to be openable and closable. A game board (not shown) in which a game area is defined can be stored, and a variable display unit (not shown) is detachably disposed below the game board. Further, on the front side of the front frame 3, a transparent member holding frame 7 with one side (left side in FIG. 1) attached thereto is provided so as to be able to open and close (rotate) in the front-rear direction. A transparent member 8 that can be seen through is held, and a ball storage unit 9 that can store a game ball is provided below the transparent member holding frame 7. When the transparent member holding frame 7 is closed, the game board is covered with the transparent member holding frame 7, and the transparent member 8 is disposed in front of the game area, and the game area and the variable display unit are moved up and down through the transparent member 8. It is configured to be visible from the front in a lined-up state. Further, the shelf 10 is disposed in a portion of the front frame 3 adjacent to the lower portion of the transparent member holding frame 7 in the closed state so as to protrude forward from the lower portion of the front frame 3. A game effect button 11 that can be operated by the player during the game is provided on one side of the front surface of the shelf 10 (left side in FIG. 1), and fired on the other side (right side in FIG. 1). A launching operation unit (launching operation handle) 12 for performing an operation of launching a game ball from an apparatus (not shown) is provided in a state of protruding forward from the front frame 3.

Next, the firing operation unit 12 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the firing operation unit 12 includes a unit base 14 serving as a fixed-side base of the firing operation unit 12 and a rotation center axis C in the protruding direction of the firing operation unit 12 (that is, the front frame). 3 and the rotation operation unit 15 that is rotated to adjust the launching force of the game ball, and the rotation operation unit 15 is rotated in the direction of the central axis along with the rotation operation. And a slide guide mechanism 16 that slides to the right.

  The unit base 14 has a rear base portion 21 fixed to the front frame 3 and a circle located on the opposite side of the front frame 3 across the rear base portion 21, in other words, in front of the rear base portion 21. A plate-like front base portion 22 is provided in a state of being separated in the front-rear direction, and a later-described rotation operation portion 15 is disposed between the rear base portion 21 and the front base portion 22. As shown in FIG. 3A, the rear base portion 21 includes a laterally cylindrical base body 24 whose front end portion (an end portion near the front base portion 22) has an enlarged diameter. The diameter portion is covered from the front by the base lid portion 25. Further, on the front side of the base lid portion 25 (in other words, on the rotation operation unit 15 side), as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a short cylindrical rotation that can be loosely fitted to the rotation operation unit 15. The dynamic support portion 26 is bulged. Furthermore, a contact region forming portion 27 that can be touched by a player's finger is provided at a position behind the rotation support portion 26 (in other words, on the front frame 3 side) in the outer peripheral portion of the base lid portion 25. It is formed in the shape of an annular sleeve having a diameter larger than 26, and conductivity is imparted by plating the surfaces of the contact region forming portion 27 and the rotation support portion 26, for example. Then, a lead wire connection terminal 28 wired from a touch detection means (not shown) is connected near the center of the front surface of the base lid portion 25 to conduct to the contact region forming portion 27 (see FIG. 3A). ), The touch detection means detects that the player has grasped the firing operation unit 12 by hand and the finger has touched the contact region forming unit 27, and this detection (that is, the player has touched the contact region forming unit 27) ) To allow the game ball to be fired from the launching device.

  Further, a disk-shaped bracket 31 is housed inside the enlarged diameter portion of the base body 24, and a variable resistor 32, a stop lever 33, and a stop switch 34 are mounted on the bracket 31 (FIG. 3B). reference). More specifically, a variable resistor 32 (corresponding to the adjustment signal output means in the present invention) having an adjustment rotation shaft 32a is fixed to the central portion of the bracket 31 and adjusted from the variable resistor 32. A signal can be output, and the launch force of the game ball is adjusted based on the adjustment signal. Then, the adjustment rotation shaft 32 a is arranged on the rotation center axis C of the rotation operation unit 15, and the tip of the adjustment rotation shaft 32 a is opened from the support portion opening 26 a opened at the center of the rotation support portion 26. When protruding and engaging with the rotation operation unit 15 and rotating the rotation operation unit 15, the adjustment rotation shaft 32 a is rotated so that the adjustment signal (specifically, the resistance value of the variable resistor 32) can be changed. It is configured. In addition, the structure which engages the adjustment rotation axis | shaft 32a and the rotation operation part 15 is demonstrated in detail later.

  Further, an upper end of a vertically long stop lever 33 is pivotally attached to a portion closer to the side (on the left side in FIG. 3B) on the front side of the bracket 31, and the lower end of the stop lever 33 is pivoted. Projecting from the lever projecting opening 35 provided in the contact region forming portion 27. When the stop lever 33 is swung by pressing the lower end of the stop lever 33 toward the center of the bracket 31 (in other words, near the rotation center axis C of the rotation operation unit 15), the stop lever 33 operates the stop switch 34. Based on this operation, a stop signal is output from the stop switch 34, and the launching operation of the game ball by the launching device is stopped.

  The front base portion 22 is a member supported by a rod 37 extending forward from the rear base portion 21 (specifically, the base main body 24), and has a substantially bowl shape on the front side of the front base portion 22. The decorative member 38 is fixed, and a decorative panel 39 is fixed at the center of the decorative member 38. Further, a bearing fitting portion 40 is formed in the central portion of the front base portion 22, specifically, at a position located on the rotation center axis C, penetrating in the direction of the rotation center axis. A part of a slide guide mechanism 16 to be described later is fitted.

  The rotation operation unit 15 is a disk-shaped member that is turned by a player with his / her finger. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the rotation operation unit 15 engages with the outer periphery of the rotation operation unit 15. The protrusion 43 is provided so that the player can hook the finger to the hooking protrusion 43 while holding the firing operation unit 12 by hand. Further, the front surface side (front base portion 22 side) of the rotation operation portion 15 is recessed in a circular shape to form the rotation accommodating space portion 44, and the rear surface side (rear base portion 21 side) of the rotation operation portion 15. ) Is recessed in a circular shape to form a rotation fitting space 45, and the rotation receiving space 44 can accommodate the front base 22, and the rotation fitting space 45 includes the rear base 21. The rotation support portion 26 can be loosely fitted. In a normal state where the rotation operation unit 15 is not rotated, the front base portion 22 is disposed in front of the rotation accommodating space portion 44 and the rotation support portion 26 is disposed in the rotation fitting space portion 45. Is loosely fitted, and the rear end portion of the rotation operation portion 15 is brought close to (or in contact with) the front edge portion of the contact region forming portion 27 (see FIG. 2B). Further, a connecting boss 46 projects rearward from a central portion located on the rotation center axis C in the rotation fitting space 45, and the adjustment rotation shaft of the variable resistor 32 is provided on the connection boss 46. 32a is connected, and the rotation operation unit 15 is supported in a rotatable state on the rear base unit 21 (a part of the unit base 14). Then, an arc-shaped insertion opening 47 is opened at a position located outside the connection boss 46 so that the rod 37 of the rear base portion 21 is inserted, and the rod 37 and the rotation operation unit 15 do not interfere with each other. Is set.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 5A, an annular mounting protrusion 50 is provided on the surface side (front base portion 22 side) of the rotation operation portion 15 so as to project. A rotation biasing member 51 such as a torsion coil spring is wound around the outer periphery of the rotation biasing member 51 and one end of the rotation biasing member 51 is locked to a locking receiving portion 52 provided in the rotation operation unit 15. . Further, the locking rod 53 extending from the rear base portion 21 is inserted into the insertion opening 47, and the other end of the rotation biasing member 51 is connected to the tip of the locking rod 53 (that is, a part of the unit base 14). The rotation operation unit 15 is always locked in the normal rotation start posture (see FIG. 2), that is, in the firing force reduction adjustment direction (the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 2A) that returns to the initial position. Energized. In the state where the rotation operation unit 15 is set to the rotation start posture, the protrusion 54 (see FIG. 5B) protruding from the rear portion of the rotation operation unit 15 causes the base lid unit 25 to move from the stop lever 33. The stop operation piece 33a (see FIG. 3B) penetrating and projecting toward the rotation fitting space 45 is pressed to swing the stop lever 33, and the stop lever 33 operates the stop switch 34. To do. As a result, the game ball is not fired from the launching device. Then, the rotation operation unit 15 is moved from the rotation start posture against the urging force of the rotation urging member 51 to adjust the firing force increase adjustment direction (the right side indicated by the arrow B in FIGS. 2A, 4 and 6). When rotating in the rotation direction), the projection 54 is separated from the stop operation piece 33a to release the operation of the stop switch 34, and the stop state of the launch operation in the launch device is released. In addition, the adjustment rotation shaft 32a of the variable resistor 32 rotates, and the adjustment signal changes with an increase in the rotation amount from the rotation start posture, so that the firing force of the launching device changes from a weak state to a strong state. .

Next, the slide guide mechanism 16 will be described.
The slide guide mechanism 16 includes an operation shaft portion 56 provided in the rotation operation portion 15, a bearing member 57 mounted on the front base portion 22, and a plurality of cams 58 protruding from the front surface side of the base lid portion 25. And a plurality of cam followers 59 projecting from the rotation operation unit 15, and a slide urging member 60 such as a compression coil spring that urges the cam followers 59 toward the cam 58. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 5A, the position where the operation shaft portion 56 is positioned on the rotation center axis C on the surface side of the rotation operation portion 15, specifically Is provided so as to protrude from the inside of the mounting projection 50 toward the front base portion 22 in a state along the rotation center axis C, and the tip of the operation shaft portion 56 is rotatable to a bearing member 57 having self-lubricating properties. The bearing member 57 is fitted to the bearing fitting portion 40 of the front base portion 22 in this state in a slidable state. A slide urging member 60 such as a compression coil spring is wound around the outer periphery of the operation shaft portion 56, and one end (rear end) of the slide urging member 60 is interposed between the operation shaft portion 56 and the mounting protrusion 50. The other end (front end) is engaged with the rear end portion of the bearing member 57 (the end portion on the rotation operation portion 15 side). As a result, the urging force of the slide urging member 60 urges the rotation operation portion 15 toward the unit base 14 (base lid portion 25 side) and urges the bearing member 57 toward the bearing fitting portion 40. . Further, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), a cam follower 59 is protruded toward the rear base lid portion 25 in the rotation fitting space 45 of the rotation operation unit 15, and the cam follower 59 is rotated. Around the central axis C, the phases are shifted by 120 degrees and arranged in three places.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4A, a cam 58 formed in an arc shape around the rotation center axis C is provided on the front surface portion of the rotation support portion 26 of the base lid portion 25. Around C, the phase is shifted by 120 degrees at three positions. Further, the cam 58 protrudes along the rotation center axis direction toward the front rotation operation portion 15 (specifically, the rotation fitting space portion 45), and an arcuate inclined cam surface 62 is formed at the protruding end portion. The cam follower 59 of the rotation operation unit 15 that is biased by the biasing force of the slide biasing member 60 is pressed (contacted) against the inclined cam surface 62. Then, as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, the end portion of the inclined cam surface 62 with which the cam follower 59 abuts in a state where the rotation operation unit 15 is set to the rotation start posture is defined as a start end 62a. (Refer to FIG. 2 (b)), the end that moves from the start end 62a in the direction of adjustment for increasing the firing force and reaches the end 62b, and the inclined cam surface 62 gradually moves from the start end 62a toward the end 62b. It is set in an inclined state approaching the side (front). In other words, the cam height (the distance between the inclined cam surface 62 and the rotation support portion 26) h is gradually increased from the start end 62a to the end end 62b of the inclined cam surface 62. Further, the slope S1 of the intermediate portion from the start end 62a to the end 62b of the inclined cam surface 62 is set steeper than the slope S2 on the start end 62a side and the slope S3 on the end 62b side, and the slope S2 and the slope S3 are substantially equal. It is set to be tilted. Therefore, the rate of change of the cam height h that changes along the arc direction of the cam 58 varies depending on the position of the inclined cam surface 62, and the rate of change of the cam height h in the intermediate portion is the cam at the start end 62a and the end end 62b. The height h is configured to be greater than the rate of change. The slopes S1, S2, and S3 of the inclined cam surface 62 are based on the base end portion of the cam 58 positioned on the opposite side of the inclined cam surface 62 with the cam 58 interposed therebetween, in other words, the front surface of the rotation support portion 26. The degree of inclination (inclination angle) at each position (start end 62a side, intermediate portion, end 62b side) of the inclined cam surface 62 to be set is shown.

  Then, the firing operation unit 12 adjusts the rotation operation unit 15 so that the cam follower 59 is in contact with the start end 62a side of the inclined cam surface 62, the signal output setting of the variable resistor 32 is set to the launch force of the game ball. A state in which the level is within the weak level range, specifically, the launching force is set so that the game ball does not reach the game area and becomes a foul ball. Further, when the cam follower 59 is rotated and adjusted so as to abut on the end 62b side of the inclined cam surface 62, the signal output setting of the variable resistor 32 is set to a state where the launch force of the game ball is within the strong level range, specifically, The game ball is set so as to have a launching force such that the game ball flies from one side of the game region to the other side and collides with the other side section (not shown) of the game region vigorously. Further, when the cam follower 59 is rotated and adjusted so as to contact the intermediate portion of the inclined cam surface 62, the signal output setting of the variable resistor 32 is set so that the firing force of the game ball is in the middle level range, specifically, the game It is set so that the ball does not become a foul ball and does not collide with the other side section of the game area, in other words, a launch force that generates a flight trajectory in which the game ball can win a prize.

  In addition, the firing operation unit 12 is provided with an engagement mechanism 65 between the adjustment rotation shaft 32 a of the variable resistor 32 and the connection boss 46 of the rotation operation unit 15, and the connection boss 46 is interposed via the engagement mechanism 65. The (rotation operation unit 15) is engaged (connected) to the adjustment rotation shaft 32a in a state in which the rotation operation unit 15 is slidable in the rotation center axis direction. The engagement mechanism 65 engages the engagement protrusion 66 with an engagement protrusion 66 extending in a direction different from the rotation center axis direction (specifically, a direction orthogonal to the rotation center axis C). The engaging groove portion 67 extends along the central axis direction. Then, the cylindrical shaft cover member 68 is fastened to the tip of the adjusting rotation shaft 32a so as to be able to co-rotate, and the engagement protrusion 66 is erected on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft cover member 68, while the engagement groove portion 67 is formed at the rear end of the connection boss 46 in a state of being opened rearward and laterally. A connecting hole 46a in which the shaft cover member 68 can be loosely fitted is opened rearward at the axial center of the rear end portion of the connecting boss 46, and the connecting hole 46a and the engaging groove portion 67 communicate with each other. ing. Accordingly, the shaft cover member 68 is inserted into the connection hole 46a from behind, and the engagement protrusion 66 is inserted into the engagement groove from behind.

  In the pachinko gaming machine 1 having the launch operation unit 12 having such a configuration, in order to launch the game ball by operating the launch operation unit 12, first, the launch operation unit 12 is grasped by hand from the front base portion 22 side. Then, the finger is engaged with the engaging protrusion 43 of the rotation operation unit 15 and the fingertip is brought into contact with the contact region forming unit 27. In this state, the rotation operation unit 15 is resisted against the urging force of the rotation urging member 51. Then, it is rotated in the direction of adjustment for increasing the firing force (see FIG. 6A). Then, the rotational force of the rotation operation unit 15 is transmitted to the adjustment rotation shaft 32 a via the connection boss 46, the engagement mechanism 65, and the shaft cover member 68, and the adjustment rotation shaft 32 a is shared with the rotation operation unit 15. Turn around. Further, an adjustment signal starts to be output from the variable resistor 32 having the adjustment rotation shaft 32a rotated, and the launching device is driven based on this adjustment signal to fire a game ball.

  When the turning operation unit 15 is turned, the cam follower 59 pressed against the cam 58 slides on the inclined cam surface 62 from the start end 62a toward the end end 62b as shown in FIG. 6B. In accordance with this sliding, the rotation operation unit 15 slides along the rotation center axis direction. Specifically, from the state in which the rotation operation unit 15 and the contact region forming unit 27 are close to each other (or in contact), the front side by the cam height h at the position of the inclined cam surface 62 in which the cam follower 59 is in contact. Slide toward the base 22 side. Further, the operation shaft portion 56 slides in the rotation center axis direction within the bearing member 57. As a result of the rotation operation unit 15 being slid in the direction of the rotation center axis by the slide guide mechanism 16 in this manner, the firing operation unit 12 is placed in the rotation storage space 44 of the rotation operation unit 15 in the rear part of the front base portion 22. And the rear portion of the rotation support portion 26 (the portion located on the contact region forming portion 27 side) is pulled out from the rotation fitting space portion 45 and between the contact region forming portion 27 and the rotation operation portion 15. The gap W to be formed (corresponding to the gap formed between the unit base 14 and the rotation operation unit 15 in the present invention) is widened. Therefore, even if a foreign object such as a coin is sandwiched in the gap W, the foreign object can be easily separated from the contact region forming unit 27 (unit base 14) or the rotation operation unit 15. As a result, by using the urging force of the rotation urging member 51, the firing force reduction adjustment direction (direction to return to the rotation start posture) from the rotation position where the player tries to maintain the rotation operation unit 15 with a foreign object. It is difficult to maintain the rotation position of the rotation operation unit 15. Therefore, it becomes easy to prevent the player from attempting to play the game while keeping the firing force of the game ball in a constant state without touching the firing operation unit 12, and the player can be encouraged to execute a healthy game. Further, even if dust or dirt enters the gap W between the contact region forming unit 27 and the rotation operation unit 15, the gap W can be widened to easily remove the dust and the rotation operation unit 15 is hindered. It can rotate without.

  While the rotation operation unit 15 is sliding along with the rotation operation, the engagement groove portion 67 of the engagement mechanism 65 engages the engagement protrusion 66 with the edge portion thereof and the connection boss 46. The shaft cover member 68 rotates together, whereby the rotation operation unit 15 and the adjustment rotation shaft 32a rotate together. Further, in a state where the engagement groove portion 67 engages with the engagement protrusion 66, it moves in the rotation central axis direction, in other words, in the extending direction of the engagement groove portion 67, and the connection boss 46 is engaged with the shaft cover member 68. The sliding operation unit 15 is allowed to slide along the rotation center axis direction. Therefore, it is not necessary to slide the variable resistor 32 in the direction of the rotation center axis together with the rotation operation unit 15. Thereby, it is possible to avoid the problem that the transmission wiring for transmitting the adjustment signal from the variable resistor 32 repeatedly moves and breaks, and it is possible to make it difficult for the firing operation unit 12 to fail.

  In order to adjust the launch force of the game ball, the rotation amount of the rotation operation unit 15 (specifically, the rotation amount or the rotation angle rotated from the rotation start posture) is changed to change the rotation of the adjustment rotation shaft 32a. The amount of rotation is adjusted, and the adjustment signal output from the variable resistor 32 is changed. At this time, since the slope S1 of the intermediate portion from the start end 62a to the end 62b of the inclined cam surface 62 is set steeper than the slope S2 on the start end 62a side and the slope S3 on the end 62b side, the rotation operation unit 15 The amount of slide per unit rotation angle can be changed. Further, when the rotation operation unit 15 is adjusted in a state where the cam follower 59 slides on the intermediate portion of the inclined cam surface 62, the player has a desired firing force (for example, a firing force at which a game ball can be won). Therefore, even if the player attempts to win a prize by maintaining the rotation position of the rotation operation unit 15 and thus the launching force of the game ball by a foreign object, the gap is not adjusted during the adjustment of the rotation operation unit 15. W spreads rapidly, and as a result, it is easy to prevent the rotation position of the rotation operation unit 15, that is, the maintenance of the launching force of the game ball. Therefore, it is possible to further encourage the player to execute a healthy game.

  Further, in the above embodiment, when the rotation operation unit 15 is rotated, the cam follower 59 slides on the inclined cam surface 62 and the rotation operation unit 15 slides in the rotation center axis direction. A mechanism for sliding the rotation operation unit 15 in the direction of the rotation center axis along with the rotation operation can be realized with a simple configuration. Since the bearing member 57 is urged toward the bearing fitting portion 40 of the front base portion 22 using the urging force of the slide urging member 60, the bearing member 57 can be reliably positioned and rotated. The moving operation unit 15 can be smoothly rotated and slid. Further, since the cam follower 59 is pressed against the inclined cam surface 62 by the urging force of the slide urging member 60, the downward inclination direction of the inclined cam surface 62 (downward inclination toward the start end 62a from the terminal end 62b) of the pressing force of the cam follower 59. The cam follower 59 and the rotation operation unit 15 can be returned to the rotation start posture by using the component force along the direction. Therefore, it is possible to avoid setting the urging force of the rotation urging member 51 to be larger than necessary, and the urging force is applied to the engaging portion (the engagement receiving portion 52 and the engagement rod 53) of the rotation urging member 51. It is possible to reduce the load, and as a result, it is possible to suppress the inconvenience that the locking portion is damaged and the rotation operation unit 15 is not restored.

  By the way, in the said embodiment, although the cam follower 59 was provided in the rotation operation part 15, and the cam was provided in the base cover part 25, this invention is not limited to this. In short, the slide guide mechanism 16 having any configuration may be used as long as the rotation operation unit 15 can be slid in the direction of the rotation center axis along with the rotation operation. For example, a cam may be provided on the rear side of the rotation operation unit 15, and a cam follower may be provided on the base lid unit 25. Alternatively, a cam may be provided on the front side of the rotation operation unit 15 and a cam follower may be provided on the rear side of the front base unit 22. In addition, when the rotation operation unit 15 is rotated in the firing force increase adjustment direction, the slide operation unit 15 is set to slide toward the front base portion 22 side. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the rotation operation unit 15 is increased in firing force increase. You may set so that it may slide to the back side base part 21 side, if it rotates to an adjustment direction.

  Further, in the engagement mechanism 65 in the above embodiment, the engagement protrusion 66 is provided on the adjustment rotation shaft 32a (specifically, the shaft cover member 68 fixed to the adjustment rotation shaft 32a), and the engagement groove portion 67 is rotated. Although provided in the connection boss 46 of the operation unit 15, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an engagement protrusion may be provided on the connection boss 46, and an engagement groove may be provided on the adjustment rotation shaft 32a. Further, the engagement mechanism may have any configuration as long as the rotation operation unit 15 and the adjustment rotation shaft 32a can rotate and allow the rotation operation unit 15 to slide. Furthermore, the adjustment signal output means in the present invention is not limited to the variable resistor 32, and may have any configuration as long as it can output an adjustment signal for adjusting the firing force of the game ball. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although it comprised so that the rotation operation part 15 of a rotation start attitude | position operated the stop lever 33 and stopped the discharge operation | movement of a discharge device, this invention is not limited to this. For example, when the rotation operation unit 15 is set to the rotation start posture, the variable resistor 32 (adjustment signal output unit) may be in an OFF state in which the output of the adjustment signal is stopped.

  In the above embodiment, a pachinko gaming machine, which is a typical gaming machine, has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a launching operation unit for launching a game ball is provided in the front frame. Any gaming machine may be used. For example, it may be a gaming machine such as an enclosed ball pachinko machine, an arrangement ball gaming machine, or a sparrow ball gaming machine.

  It should be understood that the above-described embodiment is illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The present invention is not limited to the above description, but is defined by the scope of the claims, and includes all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the scope of the claims.

It is a perspective view of a pachinko gaming machine. It is explanatory drawing of the discharge operation unit which set the rotation operation part to the rotation start attitude | position, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is sectional drawing. (A) is an exploded perspective view of a launching operation unit, and (b) is a perspective view of a bracket equipped with a variable resistor, a stop lever, and a stop switch. It is explanatory drawing of a base cover part, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a side view, (c) is explanatory drawing of the cam height of an inclination cam surface. It is explanatory drawing of a rotation operation part, (a) is a front perspective view, (b) is a back perspective view. It is explanatory drawing of the discharge operation unit of the state which rotated the rotation operation part from the rotation start attitude | position, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is sectional drawing.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pachinko machine 3 Front frame 12 Launch operation unit 14 Unit base 15 Rotation operation part 16 Slide guide mechanism 21 Rear side base part 22 Front side base part 24 Base main body 25 Base cover part 26 Rotation support part 27 Contact area formation part 31 Bracket 32 Variable resistor 32a Adjustment turning shaft 33 Stop lever 40 Bearing fitting portion 44 Turning accommodating space portion 45 Turning fitting space portion 46 Connection boss 50 Mounting projection 51 Turning biasing member 56 Operation shaft portion 57 Bearing member 58 cam 59 cam follower 60 slide urging member 62 inclined cam surface 65 engagement mechanism 66 engagement protrusion 67 engagement groove 68 shaft cover member

Claims (6)

In a gaming machine equipped with a front operation frame for launching a game ball,
The launch operation unit includes a unit base that is a fixed-side base of the launch operation unit, and a pivot operation that is supported by the unit base so as to be pivotable and is rotated to adjust the launch force of the game ball. And a slide guide mechanism that slides the rotation operation unit in the direction of the rotation center axis along with the rotation operation,
A gaming machine characterized in that a sliding operation mechanism is slid by a slide guide mechanism to widen a gap formed between a unit base and a rotation operation section. The unit base includes a rear base portion fixed to the front frame and a front base portion located on the opposite side of the front frame across the rear base portion, in a state of being separated in the front-rear direction. A rotation operation part is arranged between the base part and the rear base part,
The slide guide mechanism is mounted on an operation shaft portion projecting from a position on the rotation center axis of the rotation operation portion toward the front base portion side, and attached to the front base portion, and slides the operation shaft portion. A bearing member that fits in a movable state, a cam that is formed in an arc shape around the rotation center axis, and that has an arcuate inclined cam surface at the end in the direction of the rotation center axis; A cam follower that is pressed against the inclined cam surface, and a slide urging member that urges the cam follower toward the inclined cam surface.
Either one of the cam or the cam follower is provided on the rear base portion, and the other is provided on the rotation operation portion.
2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein when the rotation operation unit is rotated, the cam follower slides on the inclined cam surface, and the rotation operation unit slides in the rotation central axis direction. Gaming machine.   The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the slope of the intermediate portion from the start end to the end of the inclined cam surface is set steeper than the start side end and the end side gradient. The front base portion is formed with a bearing fitting portion for fitting a bearing member,
The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the bearing member is biased toward the bearing fitting portion by the biasing force of the slide biasing member. The launch operation unit includes an adjustment signal output means capable of outputting an adjustment signal for adjusting the launch force of the game ball,
The adjustment signal output means includes an adjustment rotation shaft for changing the adjustment signal. The adjustment rotation shaft is disposed on the rotation center axis and is connected to the rotation operation unit via an engagement mechanism. Together
The engagement mechanism includes an engagement protrusion that extends in a direction different from the rotation center axis direction, an engagement groove that engages the engagement protrusion and extends along the rotation center axis direction, Consists of
Either the engagement protrusion or the engagement groove is provided on the adjustment rotation shaft, and the other is provided on the rotation operation portion. The rotation operation portion rotates while the rotation operation portion and the adjustment rotation shaft rotate together. The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein the gaming machine is configured to slide along a rotation center axis. The front base portion is formed with a bearing fitting portion for fitting a bearing member,
The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the bearing member is biased toward the bearing fitting portion by the biasing force of the slide biasing member.

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